**Justin’s POV**

I rolled over in the hospital bed and noticed that the other side of the bed was empty. I cracked my eyes open and searched the room. Empty. Hmm, where did Kat go?

I glanced to the table next to the bed and saw a piece of paper. I picked it up and read it. Kat said that she had to take care of something and would be back in a little bit. She told me I could link her if I needed something.

There is a gentle knock on the door before it opens. Dr. Leigh peeked her head inside.

“Good morning, Justin. I am glad to see you are awake right now. How would you feel about being release from the hospital today?”

I smiled at her, “That is the best news I have heard today. My tests came back alright?”

“Yep. We think that your miraculous healing came from some type of divine intervention. The Moon Goddess must really be looking out for you."

I laughed, “You have no idea.”

“I am going to prepare your discharge papers so that you can get out of here. I am sure Kataleya will be excited to see you discharge. I know she has been getting tired of the hospital room. She told me the bed is not nearly as comfortable as the one in her room and she was beginning to miss it”

The doctor left the room, shutting the door behind her quietly. I got up and began to gather our stuff that was in the room. By the time, Leigh came back into the room, I was ready to go. Leigh begins to go over all the discharge information with me, making sure to tell me if I start to feel light-headed, dizzy, or nauseous then to come back and see her since it could be a side effect of dying and coming back.

Before Leigh finishes, I felt someone pushing on my mind-link.

Justin. I need you to try and contact Kataleya through the link and see if you can get a response from her! Michael yelled at me through the link.

Fuck. What's going on?

I quickly force the mind-link with Kataleya and I can feel her rising panic and anxiety, followed by her heightening anger. “Kataleya? Love, are you okay?” I asked through the link, but did not receive anything from her.

I looked at Leigh and told her I had to go, but I would send someone later to get our stuff.

“Where are you? I can feel her anger, panic, and anxiety! I shouted through the link at Michael.

“Iam not supposed to tell you this, but no one is willing to get near her in this state. We are worried to set her off. She made us promise not to call you..this was a side of her she never wanted you to see"

I cut him off, “Michael, where the hell are you?"

“Dungeons. We are at the dungeons. Kat is questioning the rogue prisoner..and he said something that caused her to snap! Fuck. I was about 2-3 miles away from the dungeons. It will be easier if I shifted to get there.

I quickly shifted and took off, allowing Ares to get us to the dungeons as quick as possible. Once outside the dungeon, one of the guards tried to stop me from entering. Ares growled at him and the guy backed off slightly with his arms raised.

“You aren't allowed in here. We were told the access to the prisoner was by invitation only by the ranked members.”

That was Ares’ snapping point. He viewed this as a challenge and someone keeping him from getting to his mate.

'YOU WILL NOT KEEP ME FROM MY MATE!" he bellowed through the link at him.

At that moment, one of the other guards walked up. “Freddie, let him through. That is Kataleya's mate. Michael linked me and told me that he has all permissions granted to him of a ranked member”

The guard bowed his head to me, scanned his hand, and allowed me entry inside the dungeon.

Once inside, I shifted back and one of the guards inside handed me shorts and a shirt.

I followed Kataleya's scent to one of the interrogation rooms. I opened the door and saw the ranked members watching from behind the glass. I peeked into the room and saw Kataleya beating the shit out of the rogue.

I looked at Michael, “Are you going to tell me what happened and why she is not responding to my links?"

I could tell that Michael and the Alpha were having a silent conversation.

I ignored them and walked into the room with Kataleya. I slowly approached her from behind and wrapped my arms around her waist, cautiously. I picked her up and cradled her in my arms, walking back out of the room.

I stopped outside the door and turned to look at the ranked members, “I hope one of you can tell me what exactly happened in there and what was done to my mate that caused her to be in this state”

Michael slowly approached Kataleya and asked her if she was going to be alright, but she did not respond. She just continued to stare at him in almost a catatonic state. After a few seconds of ignoring him, she finally looked him in the eye and shook her head no.

I carried her to the packhouse and I took her up to our room. I walked into the bathroom and sat her on the toilet, while I ran her a hot bath, making sure that I added some of the essential oils that she liked. I remember my sister telling me one time that all women liked essential oils, especially if they could find a scent that was similar to that of their mate. That was exactly what I did. I had found asked Kat what my scent was to her and I went and found some essential oils. Usually, if she had a long, stressful day or a particularly grueling training session, I would gather the essential oil and run her a steaming bath to relax her.

After I finished her water, I turned back to her, “Kataleya, do you want to bathe by yourself or would you like my help”

She stared at me, unblinking.

I don't know how to help her if I don't know what happened in that interrogation room..what could he have possibly said to her to cause this kind of turmoil in her?

She finally looked at me and nodded her head. “Are you sure, my love?” I quietly asked her.

She nodded her head again and I cautiously took another step towards her. I slowly reached for her shirt and gently pulled it above her head. I moved to take off her socks and shoes before I reached for her pants, pausing, waiting for her to give me permission to take off her pants.

She nodded her head at me and I slowly unfastened her jeans and slid them down her legs. I reached up and unclasped her bra and letting it slide down her arms. Once her bra was off, I reached for her panties and slid them down her legs.

Once she was naked in front of me, my breathe hitched and I had to take a couple of deep breaths. She was stunning. Absolutely beautiful.

I cannot believe the amount of trust she has for me to allow me the opportunity to undress her and help her. Fuck, if I had asked her this just a month ago, she would have freaked out.

“Mate is beautiful; Ares whispered.

Yes, she is. She definitely is; I responded.

I lifted her off the toilet and placed her in the tub. I sat at the edge of the tub and grabbed her loofah and began to slowly clean her body. I made sure to take special care to not linger on her intimate areas. I did not want to send her spiraling out of control by my touch. Once I finished washing her body, I grabbed the nozzle spray and gently tilted her head back. Once I made sure her hair was wet, I started to lather the shampoo in and then proceeded to wash the shampoo out of her hair. I grabbed a towel and gently lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her body in the towel.

I sat her on the toilet and rushed back into the room, heading for the closet. I started to rummage in the drawers, trying to find some clothes for her to wear. I found a pair of her leggings and some of her undergarments and decided to grab one of my shirts for her to put on.

I walked back into the bathroom to see her still sitting in the same position that I had left her in. I lifted her up and helped her dress before carrying her to the bed and laying her down.

We laid there in silence and I was waiting for her to speak.

“Mate is sad, Ares whimpered.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

know, buddy, I know. I don't know how to help her. She will talk to us when she is ready to. She just isn't ready. *

He whimpered again. My poor wolf is usually a fierce beast that cannot be messed with, except when it comes to our mate. She turns him into a little whipped puppy.

“Watch who you are calling a puppy; he growled at me.

Kataleya looks up at me, “They are after me,” she whispered.

I am quiet for a second as I processed what she said.

“Who is after you, love?”

We spend another moment in silence before she responds, her voice cracking as she answers me, “The rogues said they were coming for me, to try and make me their bitch and whore.”

I growled as I tightened my arms around her. How dare anyone try to fucking hurt what is mine. “I will never let anyone ever hurt you ever again. That is a promise, love. I cannot protect you if you do not tell me who I need to protect you from, though"

“The men that had attacked me when I was I8..they are after me again... am essentially the reason that you were attacked. it was my fault you were injured. It is my fault that we almost lost you before I could tell you exactly what you mean to me." I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, holding her even tighter to me, “Baby, you are not to blame for them attacking this pack and you are not to blame for my injuries. Goddess forbid, if something had happened to me, Kataleya, it would have not been your fault. No matter what happens between us moving forward, I need you to understand that and see that I do not blame you one bit. Plus, it takes a lot more than a couple of scratches to injure me and to take me away from you. You, my love, are my everything and I would move heaven and hell just to remain by your side for as long as you will have me.”

She stared at me in silence for a little while longer and then she raised her arms and wrapped them around my neck, I let her pull my neck down towards her and she nuzzled her face into my neck.

“I love you, Justin."

“I love you too, my love,” I whispered to her.

I need to find something that I can do about these bastards, so that Kataleya is no longer haunted by the demons of her past.